Uttarakhand : Rishikesh-Karnprayag rail line: Village in trouble due to tunnel blasts, cracked houses, courtyards, cowsheds

The existence of Mardara village of Ranigarh belt is under threat due to explosions for the construction of tunnel of Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line. From houses to chowks, farms and cowsheds in the village, there are cracks, which can become the cause of great misfortune at any time. 19 families of the village have taken shelter elsewhere. The affected have demanded safe rehabilitation from the government, administration and RVNL.

The rail line is passing through 11 villages in Rudraprayag district. These days the construction work is in full swing in all the areas, but the way explosives are being used for the construction of railway lines, villages are being damaged. The condition is that the very existence of Mardara village of Ranigarh belt of Agastyamuni block has come under threat. The houses and cowsheds in the village are full of cracks. Out of 40 families living here, 19 families have left their houses for safety and have taken shelter elsewhere. As the cracks continue to grow, other families are also preparing to move to a safer place.

Villagers said, it can happen at any time

Local public representatives and villagers say that there are deep and wide cracks in all the residential houses, cowsheds and farms in the village, which are increasing day by day, in this situation any untoward incident can never be ruled out in the village. Forest Panchayat Sarpanch Devi Prasad Thapliyal, Matbar Singh Rawat, Narottam Singh Rawat, Arvind Singh Butola, Gangadutt Thapliyal, Rai Singh Negi, Vinod Singh Negi etc. told that the tunnel has been constructed for the last several days for the railway line passing just below the village. Construction is going on. People are horrified by the day-to-day explosions. Their houses and other properties could end up in a pile of rubble at any time. He has demanded the rehabilitation of the village from the Railway Development Corporation and the district administration. (conversation)

Cattle selling at throwaway prices

People are scared because of the dilapidated houses and cowsheds due to cracks. Cattle farmers are forced to sell their cattle, cows, buffaloes, bullocks, goats at throwaway prices. Many families have sold their cattle. Amidst the deteriorating situation in Mardara, the district administration has asked RVNL to take action to resettle the villagers at safer places elsewhere. Along with this, instructions have also been given to pay the rent of the families taking shelter elsewhere.

So far 19 families of Mardara village have taken shelter elsewhere, whose rent is being borne by RVNL. Along with this, RVNL has also been asked to take action regarding the displacement of the village. Another meeting will be held soon with RVNL and villagers in this regard.

Manuj Goyal, District Magistrate Rudraprayag